Marie Connolly: Marie has recently joined Melbourne University after 5 years as Chief Social Worker, a senior executive within the New Zealand government. In this role she was involved in strategically reforming the NZ child welfare system, provided social work leadership across the sector and provided advice to the Minister, the head of the Ministry of Social Development and the child welfare service within the Ministry. Prior to this she was Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury and founding Director of the Te Awatea Violence Research Centre. She has published extensively in her area of scholarship including recent books: lives cut short: child death by maltreatment (2007); Morals, rights and practice in the human services (2008); and Social work contexts and practice (2009). She has a social work background in child protection.
